White-Footed Ant Identification in Florida

White-footed ants are medium black-brown ants that are common throughout Florida. Unlike most ants, they don't have a defense system such as a venomous stinger, chemical spray, or strong arms. The ability that they do have, however, is the ability to reproduce in large numbers.

You might be wondering, "are the ants in my home white-footed ants or sugar ants?"

White-footed ants look like typical little black ants, but with one difference. They have yellowish-white feet, called tarsi - which explains the name "white-footed ants."

Sugar ants, also called ghost ants, look a little different - they have translucent bodies that make them look like little ghosts. They're more of a yellow, white or light brown color, while white-footed ants are much darker in color and are opaque. 

The easiest way to get rid of white-footed ants is by eliminating the sap-sucking insects that are in the shrubs in your yard. These sap-sucking insects include aphids, mealybugs, and other scale insects.

These insects rely on ant species like white footed ants, and white footed ants love the sugary substance called honeydew that they produce from sucking the sap from plants.

This is the most reliable way to get rid of white footed ants. If you get rid of the honeydew-producing insects, you will see a drastic decrease in white footed ants.

There are a few methods we use to get rid of these insects, such as liquid root drench, and granular bait application. Specific products include Dominion 2L, Tristar, Meridian, and Acelepryn.

Another way to get rid of white-footed ants is by using ant bait. We recommend that you use a combination of liquid and granular bait. Some examples include Maxforce Complete Granular Insect Bait, Intice 10 Perimeter Bait, Niban bait, Quantum ant bait, Intice Thiquid ant bait, and Advion ant bait.

Avoid using a repellant spray that kills on contact. These sprays will just send a blaring alarm to the rest of the colony, notifying them that they're in danger. They'll simply avoid the bait and begin to reproduce even quicker. 

Ant control can be tricky. While you can get rid of white-footed ants on your own, the best solution is to leave it to the professionals. We consider ourselves professionals when it comes to white-footed ants, and can quickly eliminate even the most difficult and large infestations.

For more information about our top rated white-footed ant control in Florida, reach out to our office today!